Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, November 7
Los Angeles, Calif.
8 p.m. CT
Northwestern
5-4 , 3-3
17
at
38
#20 USC
7-2 , 5-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Northwestern
7
7
3
0
17
USC
7
14
7
10
38
Photo by: Griffin Quinn / Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Suffers 38-17 Defeat at No. 20 USC
11/7/2025 11:56:00 PM | Football
LOS ANGELES — Northwestern fell 38-17 to No. 20 USC on Friday Night in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Wildcats (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) and Trojans (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten) engaged in an early back-and-forth battle, but the hosts pulled away in the second half.
"Disappointed in the result, disappointed in our performance in the second half," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "Came out here with the expectation of coming back to Evanston with a win."
Redshirt sophomore running back Caleb Komolafe paced NU's rushing attack with 118 yards on 17 attempts and one touchdown. He also recorded a team-high 40 receiving yards on five receptions.
Komolafe is the first Wildcat to rush for 100-plus yards in consecutive games since Isiah Bowser in 2018.
Graduate student quarterback Preston Stone completed 20-of-30 passes for 150 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions.
Defensively, graduate student linebacker Mac Uihlein led all tacklers with 11 total stops (8 solo) and one tackle for loss. Redshirt junior defensive back Robert Fitzgerald recorded eight tackles.
After USC opened the scoring with an opening-drive touchdown, Northwestern provided a methodical response on a 13-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Stone and Wilde connected on a four-yard passing touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 45 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
With 11:27 remaining, Jayden Maiva punched in a six-yard rushing score to retake the Trojan lead. A 37-yard Komolafe rush on the ensuing drive set up the Wildcats on the USC 1-yard-line, and the redshirt sophomore then powered his way into the end zone to knot the game at 14-14.
Late in the half, graduate student defensive lineman Najee Story recorded his first-career interception, but NU couldn't turn the takeaway into points. Story is the first Wildcat to record a sack and interception in a single game since Xander Mueller did so against UTEP on Sept. 9, 2023.
In the final 90 seconds of the second quarter, King Miller scored a 12-yard rushing touchdown to give the Trojans a 21-14 advantage heading into halftime.
"Some of the things we saw in the first half were evident of the things that were going to be required to win this football game," Braun said.
Komolafe led the 'Cats in both rushing and receiving yards in the first half, recording 117 scrimmage yards on 15 touches.
Midway through the third quarter, Maiava hit Ja'Kobi Lane for a 10-yard passing score to extend the hosts' lead to 28-14. Graduate student kicker Jack Olsen nailed a 33-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 11 points with 17 seconds remaining in the frame.
A four-yard rushing score from Makai Lemon stretched the USC lead to 35-17 with 11:14 to play. A Trojan field goal pushed the margin to 38-17 with less than five minutes remaining.
"Ultimately this game was a story of two things: momentum swings in the second quarter and a poor second half from the 'Cats," Braun remarked.
The Wildcats will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 15 against Michigan at Wrigley Field. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. CT on FOX and WGN Radio 720.
The Wildcats (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) and Trojans (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten) engaged in an early back-and-forth battle, but the hosts pulled away in the second half.
"Disappointed in the result, disappointed in our performance in the second half," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "Came out here with the expectation of coming back to Evanston with a win."
Redshirt sophomore running back Caleb Komolafe paced NU's rushing attack with 118 yards on 17 attempts and one touchdown. He also recorded a team-high 40 receiving yards on five receptions.
Komolafe is the first Wildcat to rush for 100-plus yards in consecutive games since Isiah Bowser in 2018.
Graduate student quarterback Preston Stone completed 20-of-30 passes for 150 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions.
Defensively, graduate student linebacker Mac Uihlein led all tacklers with 11 total stops (8 solo) and one tackle for loss. Redshirt junior defensive back Robert Fitzgerald recorded eight tackles.
After USC opened the scoring with an opening-drive touchdown, Northwestern provided a methodical response on a 13-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Stone and Wilde connected on a four-yard passing touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 45 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
With 11:27 remaining, Jayden Maiva punched in a six-yard rushing score to retake the Trojan lead. A 37-yard Komolafe rush on the ensuing drive set up the Wildcats on the USC 1-yard-line, and the redshirt sophomore then powered his way into the end zone to knot the game at 14-14.
…TOUCHDOWN! ?? pic.twitter.com/sNKANg94cI
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) November 8, 2025
Late in the half, graduate student defensive lineman Najee Story recorded his first-career interception, but NU couldn't turn the takeaway into points. Story is the first Wildcat to record a sack and interception in a single game since Xander Mueller did so against UTEP on Sept. 9, 2023.
In the final 90 seconds of the second quarter, King Miller scored a 12-yard rushing touchdown to give the Trojans a 21-14 advantage heading into halftime.
"Some of the things we saw in the first half were evident of the things that were going to be required to win this football game," Braun said.
Komolafe led the 'Cats in both rushing and receiving yards in the first half, recording 117 scrimmage yards on 15 touches.
Midway through the third quarter, Maiava hit Ja'Kobi Lane for a 10-yard passing score to extend the hosts' lead to 28-14. Graduate student kicker Jack Olsen nailed a 33-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 11 points with 17 seconds remaining in the frame.
A four-yard rushing score from Makai Lemon stretched the USC lead to 35-17 with 11:14 to play. A Trojan field goal pushed the margin to 38-17 with less than five minutes remaining.
"Ultimately this game was a story of two things: momentum swings in the second quarter and a poor second half from the 'Cats," Braun remarked.
The Wildcats will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 15 against Michigan at Wrigley Field. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. CT on FOX and WGN Radio 720.
Team Stats
NU
USC
Total Yards
280
482
Pass Yards
150
309
Rushing Yards
130
173
Penalty Yards
26
30
1st Downs
13
24
3rd Downs
4
6
4th Downs
1
2
TOP
27:24
32:36
1st Quarter
NU 0, USC 7
USC - Lemon,Makai 7 yd pass from Maiava,Jayden (Sayeri,Ryon kick) 16 plays, 82 yards, TOP 07:14
NU 7, USC 7
NU - Wilde,Griffin 4 yd pass from Stone,Preston (Olsen,Jack kick) 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 07:01
2nd Quarter
NU 7, USC 14
USC - Maiava,Jayden 6 yd run (Sayeri,Ryon kick), 9 plays, 58 yards, TOP 04:12
NU 14, USC 14
NU - Komolafe,Caleb 2 yd run (Olsen,Jack kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:01
NU 14, USC 21
USC - Miller,King 12 yd run (Sayeri,Ryon kick), 3 plays, 80 yards, TOP 01:23
3rd Quarter
NU 14, USC 28
USC - Lane,Ja'Kobi 10 yd pass from Maiava,Jayden (Sayeri,Ryon kick) 8 plays, 91 yards, TOP 04:12
NU 17, USC 28
NU - Olsen,Jack 33 yd field goal 12 plays, 60 yards, TOP 07:39
4th Quarter
NU 17, USC 35
USC - Lemon,Makai 4 yd run (Sayeri,Ryon kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:03
NU 17, USC 38
USC - Sayeri,Ryon 22 yd field goal 8 plays, 49 yards, TOP 04:39
Game Leaders
CMP
20
TD
1
YDS
150
INT
0
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
K
/ FootballQB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
LB
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